A community group in Walkden has been nominated for a BBC award following its work to improve the area.
Walkden in Bloom has been nominated for the BBC’s ‘Make A Difference’ award for keeping Walkden’s spaces clean and tidy.
The group has put up planters all around the town, organised regular litter picks and tries to make the town look pretty through decoration.
Paul Whitelegg started Walkden In Bloom just 12 months ago, but had been planning it for about two years.
The group is dedicated to revitalising the Walkden area and was launched alongside Councillor Irfan Syed in April 2025 to combat local neglect and foster a renewed sense of civic pride.
The project has secured significant funding – including a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery and Salford Council – to install more than 100 flower planters and develop the “Walkden Garden of Life” community allotment.
He was inspired to start the group when he noticed people weren’t talking to each other.
He said: “You could go in a cafe and it would be quiet, you could go into businesses and no one would even acknowledge you.”
Walkden in Bloom is “deep inside of him” and the six other members who helped bring his vision to life.
He utilised the community cafe Hug in a Mug and Brew & Bee as spaces to talk to people and make himself known as a friendly face.
When taking about what keeps him going each day, he said: “It’s changing somebody’s life.
“We do a litter pick and people will come out, and they won’t see anyone else any other time… and they will engage with other people.
“It has changed people’s lives, definitely for the good.”
The group recently provided 30 Christmas dinners for people and families who couldn’t afford a hot meal, also supplying presents.
The group also teamed up with Heads up Gentlemen and Darjeeling takeaway on Christmas Day to provide free food and a chance for men to talk about personal hardships.
“We could see the difference it made to people,” says Paul.
Paul described the award nomination as one of the Salford 100 Heroes project as ‘heartwarming’, but humbly also said “we don’t do it for awards”.
He says that five years from now, he wants to see Walkden as one of the best towns in Salford, which people like to visit.
